Three European marine conservation foundations have joined forces to strengthen international marine protection measures and well-being of the seas. The coalition aims to increase the number of seagrass meadows from the Baltic Sea to the Mediterranean.
Three European marine conservation foundations John Nurminen foundation (Finland), La Fondation de la Mer (France) and La Fondazione MEDSEA (Italy) are working together to strengthen international marine protection measures. Together the organizations form a coalition, which first concrete initiative launched in 2023 is to restore coastal seagrass habitats and form an underwater "green belt" from the Mediterranean to the Baltic coast.
Underwater seagrass meadows are vital to marine biodiversity. They provide food and shelter for hundreds of species on the coastlines of Europe from northern latitudes to southern regions of North America and Eurasia. The roots of these meadows bind bottom sediment, which reduces erosion and turbidity in the water. Water quality is improved too, as the meadows bind nutrients from the water. Seagrass meadows are also effective carbon sinks.
In the Mediterranean and the Baltic Sea, the seagrass meadows are formed by mainly different species (Posidonia oceanica in Mediterranean, Zostera marina in the Baltic), but they can be restored with similar actions: by planting seedlings in new, suitable growing habitats. This year all three foundations will restore seagrass meadows, some in co-operation with local authorities.
In Finland the Baltic Seagrass Project will be planting 1000 seedlings of eelgrass on the coast of the Gulf of Finland during 2023. Due to the low salinity of the northern Baltic Sea, eelgrass doesn’t form seeds on the Finnish coast, and, therefore, all eelgrass seedlings must be collected from the natural eelgrass meadows. The goal of the Baltic Seagrass project's first plantings in Finland is to establish a flourishing eelgrass meadow, which could also be used as a source of seedlings for future plantings in the coming years.
“Together we create more impact in restoring marine nature. This joint effort will bring us closer to a healthier blue planet. Seagrass meadows are an important habitat for marine life in the world’s oceans and our Baltic Sea. So, this is a great chance to engage in collaboration that will increase marine biodiversity”, says John Nurminen Foundation’s CEO, Annamari Arrakoski-Engardt.
The Fondation de la Mer supports high-impact, scientifically validated projects aimed at protecting and restoring marine biodiversity. Two Posidonia transplantation projects are supported in the Mediterranean, resulting in the transplantation of 28,000 plants. “Ongoing scientific monitoring shows a success rate of 80%. Our new missions planned for 2023 will restore several hectares. There is also a project to restore an eelgrass meadow is also underway on the French Atlantic coast”, highlights Alexandre Iaschine, Délégué Général from the Foundation de la Mer.
Marine reforestation activities in Italy continue with the goal of reaching 1,000,000 Posidonia Oceanica seedlings (endemic species of the Mediterranean) replanted within the next decade throughout the Mediterranean. The ambitious activity is being driven by the MEDSEA Foundation which, in the context of its "A marine Forest to save the Mediterranean". The latest efforts have been focused off the coast of Villasimius, within the Marine Protected Area of Capo Carbonara.
“The meadows of Posidonia Oceanica are in decline throughout the Mediterranean and one of the main causes is due to human impact, in particular trawl fishing practiced illegally near the coast and incorrect anchoring can create discontinuities which - in the long run - can contribute to degradation of the surrounding meadows”, explains president of the MEDSEA Foundation Alessio Satta. According to Satta, by restoring marine meadows, we accelerate recovery times and strengthen the natural defenses of ecosystems even under conditions of stress due to climate change.
This Finnish-Italian-French conservation coalition aim to strengthen the common understanding of marine conservation by raising awareness, talking about the life in the oceans and its importance to biodiversity and human life.

Latest news
SATURN: First monitoring of the anti trawling barriers off the Sinis Coast
Over 60 deterrents, which last February were placed between 30-40 metres on sandy seabeds to protect the habitats of the marine protected area and to counteract the threat of illegal…
MEDSEA and Civil Protection: United in the Fight Against Fires Amplified by Climate Change
In recent days, MEDSEA's land reforestation unit visited the operational centre of the regional civil protection in Cagliari and the CVA in Pula. The goal? To delve deeper into the prevention and rescue activities…
Ucraina, Environment at the Crossroads
War is perhaps the phenomenon that best describes our belonging to the Anthropocene, a term used to summarise the current geological era, characterised by the dominance of human technique that possesses…
BLUE4ALL Project: Co-Creating Effective, Efficient, and Resilient Marine Protected Areas for Biodiversity Conservation
The BLUE4ALL project, a groundbreaking initiative focused on the co-creation of effective, efficient, and resilient networks of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), is set to revolutionize marine biodiversity conservation and restoration efforts. The project aims…
Giancarlo Gusmaroli, MEDSEA Ambassador, is over halfway through his "Hug The Med" climbing mission
Giancarlo Gusmaroli, an engineer specializing in aquatic ecosystems, an avid sports enthusiast, and ambassador for MEDSEA, relaunches his mission "Climb/Hug the Med" (on Facebook with the hashtags: #climbthemed and #hugthemed). A journey…
EU Nature Restoration Law was approved: the immediate target is to restore at least 20% of ecosystems by 2030
With 336 votes in favour, 300 against, and 13 abstentions, the European Parliament approved on July 12th the Nature Restoration Law, a historic legislation aiming to restore 20% of natural ecosystems by 2030…
Hope for Sennariolo: The environmental requalification project in the aftermath of the Montiferru fire gets underway.
With "Hope for Sennariolo", environmental regeneration following the devastating fire of Montiferru, Planargia and Alta Marmilla in July 2021, is taking shape. The MEDSEA Foundation and the Municipality of Sennariolo announce…
Anti-trawling systems from Sardinia marble quarries: a new MEDSEA project with University of Cagliari
MEDSEA is studying anti-trawling solutions derived from marble processing waste in Sardinia with the University of Cagliari - DICAAR Department as a natural continuation of the "Saturn" Anti-trawling Structures for the Natural Restoration and Protection of…
Extreme-E supports A Forest for Bees by MEDSEA: A full immersion in the life of Bees during the IslandXPrix
Extreme E, the international competition of electric SUVs, has renewed its collaboration with MEDSEA to support the A Forest For Bees campaign. This initiative aims to create a widespread nectariferous forest in…
SATURN, closing event in Cabras with fishermen and supporters
With a seaside aperitif in Cabras, together with the fishermen, the SATURN project - anti-trawling systems for the protection and natural restoration of the Marine Protected Area of Sinis - Isola…
MEDSEA Achieves Accreditation at UNEP: A Gateway to Global Environmental Advocacy
MEDSEA has become one of the 11 Italian foundations to receive accreditation from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the United Nations program for the environment. Accreditation at UNEP is a…
The 5th edition of 'Puliamo la Sella!' collects over one ton of waste in Cagliari, including plastics and abandoned fishing…
Over 200 participants, one ton of waste collected, and special attention given to 'ghost nets' in collaboration with the Coast Guard of Cagliari. The MEDSEA Foundation concludes the fifth edition of “Puliamo la Sella!" event, dedicated to cleaning the beach, sea, and seabed around La Sella del Diavolo.
Reforesting seagrass meadows: the green belt from the Mediterranean to the Baltic Sea
Three European marine conservation foundations have joined forces to strengthen international marine protection measures and well-being of the seas. The coalition aims to increase the number of seagrass meadows from the…
Puliamo la Sella! returns to Cagliari on June 17th. Come join!
Puliamo la Sella! returns to Cagliari on 17 June 2023. The traditional clean up organised by the MEDSEA Foundation in the iconic Sella del Diavolo in Cagliari turns 5 in a special edition dedicated to sustainable…
SATURN meets the students from the "De Castro" high school in Oristano to talk about anti-trawling
The SATURN project team - anti-trawling structures to defend the Marine Protected Area of the Sinis Peninsula from illegal trawling - met the students of the De Castro in Oristano in recent…
TransformAR stops off in Galicia, studying solutions for aquaculture to adapt to climate changes
TransformAr recently stopped off in Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, Spain, for the 4th Meeting of the Consortium of the Horizon H2020 project which studies essential solutions and paths for climate and social resilience…
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4